THE SECOND TREE: Stem Cells, Clones, Chimeras, and Quests for Immortality

Canadian journalist Dewar's book is as much a personal journey as an examination of the science, ethics and politics of cutting-edge biology. It's structured around the author's comprehensive set of interviews with leading figures in stem cell research and reproductive cloning technology; with ethicists attempting to come to grips with the complex moral issues these studies raise; and with Canadian politicians working to regulate scientific research. Although Dewar (Bones: Discovering the First Americans ) does a very good job of presenting both the science and the excitementof the field, she falters by giving herself far too great a presence, endlessly discussing her scientific ignorance and explaining how she's come to ask the questions she's posing. The scientific advances are breathtaking (companies breeding cloned farm animals, scientists growing heart muscle from embryonic stem cells) and the ethical questions perplexing (is manipulating a human egg immoral? when is the potential to become human replaced with the actuality of being human?). Dewar insinuates that many of those involved in this research are looking for personal glory. Unfortunately, she neither demonstrates this conclusively nor answers the host of political questions currently swirling around biotechnology. And many American readers may find the extended focus on Canadian politics too narrow. Agent, Ron Eckel, Random House Canada. (Jan. 4)